Two watchmen were hacked to death at a coffee factory in Murang’a by unknown people early Thursday morning, raising fears of a comeback of deadly coffee theft gangs.
The elderly pair was guarding Ndiara-ini coffee factory in Kandara when a gang of an unknown number attacked them at around 1.30 am and slashed them withpangas killing them on the spot.
The incident left residents confused as to the motive since there was no coffee in the factory and neither did they (robbers) steal anything from the deceased men.
The incident left residents confused as to the motive since there was no coffee in the factory and neither did they (robbers) steal anything from the deceased men.
It was not fully established whether the gang was interested in stealing any coffee but questions were raised as to whether a dangerous gang accused of breaking into coffee factories to steal the prized commodity was making a comeback.
Area police boss John Katumo however said the gang could have been targeting an electricity transformer situated near the factory and probably attacked the two men when they were discovered.
He was quick to add that police were investigating the motive behind the attack and would not rule out any possibility and at the same time denied that the attack could have been carried out by the proscribed Mungiki sect members.
“We also want to establish whether the two were killed out of protracted rivalry or whether it was a normal robbery with violence incident,” he said.
“This area is not known for the Mungiki sect and therefore it is not possible they did it but we are investigating the incident from all angles,” added Mr Katumo.
The OCPD said the two were slashed with pangas and sustained serious injuries on their heads during the attack. Their mobile phones were also not stolen, added the police officer.
He said residents reported hearing the pair's screams for help and neighbours immediately responded to their distress call only to find their two bodies in a pool of blood.
Their bodies were moved to Thika hospital mortuary.
The OCPD said the mysterious disappearance of the attackers indicated they were locals adding that they would soon apprehend them.
He added that the gangsters were suspected to be armed with crude weapons and that police were following crucial information given by locals and would soon unravel the matter.
source: nation.co.ke
